Sony a55

A very fun camera too use, which for me was a major factor in my deciding to purchase this particular model. Of course this wasn't the only factor; it was and still is (compared to other brands/models) a very functional and mostly efficient camera. Some features that sprung to mind relating to the enjoyment I have experienced while using this camera though were its responsiveness, innovative design and detail in the images - even handheld - that left me pleasantly pleased. This last point of image quality (handheld) importantly (for me anyway) works with any lens in the alpha mount but I have explored that more later on.

   Maybe the most controversial and conversely unique selling points of the SLT-A55V and its sister model the SLT-A33, that was continued later on with subsequent models was that the 'T' in the model name stands for translucent mirror, rather than reflex mirror on conventional DSLRs. This means that the mirror doesn't get out of the way of the light entering the camera, instead reflecting around 30% to the AF sensor above while the rest goes through to the sensor. This information is readily available elsewhere on the Internet etc. though, so I have decided not to bore you anymore describing this system. In brief this system was designed to help the responsiveness of the camera. In some ways it does and other ways it doesn't in my opinion. I would contribute that, rather counter-intuitively, it helps in a lot of indirect ways but lacks slightly in its main aim of speed.

   The cause of most of my perceived benefits and detractors lie in the camera's EVF (electronic viewfinder) that is a consequence of the translucent mirror. It is a very good quality viewfinder, albeit maybe only for non-moving subjects. First I have listed the negatives and then some of the more 'unsung' virtues that have been implemented.

   Negatives:

• when panning the camera there is a 'tearing' of colour making it hard to follow movement accurately - this has been improved in some subsequent SLT's newer EVFs though.
• there is a blackout when shooting at the camera's impressive maximum 10fps burst mode between frames. This unfortunately continues on the 'HI' continuous setting
• it obviously has less perceivable detail when looking through it compared to an OVF as that kind of viewfinder is a (small) window of the world. This is most apparent with fine detail like someones hair blowing in the wind.
• the EVF always 'gains up' to suit the immediate scene, which makes it practically unusable in most studio situations
• the last negative of this EVF could also be seen as a positive - that is there is less dynamic range than an OVF so high contrast areas can appear blown-out (highlights), or blocked (shadows).

Positives:

• so I'll start with the same point about this EVF compared to an OVF as I did with the last negative point: its dynamic range. For me I found this lacking dynamic range occurred only in scenes of extreme contrast. I found in fact it helped in assessing the right exposure for a given scene. This was because the viewfinder would automatically adjust to what it thought was the 'right' exposure. Then, I would decide whether the light and dark areas were 'balanced'.
• there is the option of a live histogram in the viewfinder to aid with this
• I found the spirit level invaluable - it has both horizontal and vertical aids
• a major feature for me - the depth of field button (which can be assigned in the menus) does not get darker as you stop down like with OVFs making it genuinely useful.
• the focus magnifier (also assignable in the menus) is a master stroke for me in aiding manual focus and I understand in newer SLT models there is the further aid of 'focus peaking', which would probably be even more useful
• interchangeable grid lines!
• the EVF again 'gains up' in the dark. Yes, it becomes more noisy but in my opinion this is better than not being able to see much at all through an OVF.
• in most scenes I usually achieved what I deemed to be the 'right' exposure quickly and maybe more quickly than someone using an OVF camera as the camera always! adjusts according to metering

   This showed the positives (for me) of the EVF were numerous compared to the negatives but more importantly the positives were also more crucial for my way of shooting.

   So most of the  advantages of the T part in the SLT-A55V are somewhat inadvertent. However, I did find the auto-focus to be very snappy indeed and there is no 'mirror slap' or need for mirror-lock-up as the translucent mirror does not move. I was a bit dubious how influential no 'mirror slap' is to image quality even at critical shutter speeds though.

   Then there were the advantages of the Alpha system over others - the main one for me was the in body image stabilisation with any lens. Yes, the view through the viewfinder becomes more choppy the longer the focal length but for my style of shooting (short focal length prime lenses) this was a compromise I was willing to make.